New momentum for housing projects

Thursday

Feb 13, 2014 at 12:01 AM

STOCKTON - If all goes according to plan, two low-income housing developments providing more than 100 units soon may begin to rise in central Stockton, projects discussed for years but stalled by the horrific economic climate.

Roger Phillips

STOCKTON - If all goes according to plan, two low-income housing developments providing more than 100 units soon may begin to rise in central Stockton, projects discussed for years but stalled by the horrific economic climate.

Stockton's Planning Commission will meet tonight to consider approving the larger of the two projects, 82 units for older residents with a variety of disabilities. Zettie Miller's Haven, first discussed in 2009, would be located next to Unity Southern Baptist Church on Rosemarie Lane, across the street from the back of Stagg High School.

Another low-income project, also on Rosemarie but east of Pershing Avenue, is closer to becoming a reality after nearly four years of discussion. Carol Ornelas, chief executive officer of developer Visionary Home Builders, said Wednesday she expects work to begin on the 30-unit Chateau de Lyon project in late March.

"It's a good thing that's happening," Ornelas said. "We're so far behind in addressing the needs of low-income families, or in the case of the other project, developing units for people with disabilities."

The Zettie Miller project actually had City Council approval in 2009, but developer Service First of Northern California was unable to begin work before the expiration of its one-year use permit, said Forrest Ebbs of the city's Community Development Department. This time, assuming necessary approvals are obtained from the Planning Commission and the City Council, Ebbs said the use permit for the developer will be for three years.

"We're recommending a longer window for him to get his financing in order," Ebbs said, referring to Service First CEO Vernell Hill.

The project got a boost in March when the City Council voted unanimously to lend $766,000 to Hill to help make headway with the development. The total price tag for the project has been reported at $18 million.

"We're in the process of getting the funding done," Hill said this week. "It's been a number of years when the housing market collapsed and everything was put on hold. Now the lending has opened up again. We're moving the project forward."

Ebbs said the two Rosemarie projects are an encouraging sign.

"We're hoping to see some real revitalization occur in our central city," he said.

Contact reporter Roger Phillips at (209) 546-8299 or rphillips@recordnet.com. Follow him at recordnet.com/phillipsblog and on Twitter @rphillipsblog.